CBRM adds to land holdings for port development

Alonzo Wells of Point Edward, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, lives next to the greenfield area slated for a container terminal and other future development. (TOM AYERS / Cape Breton Bureau)

SYDNEY — Alonzo Wells says he has no problem with municipal plans for port development in his Point Edward neighbourhood.

Wells lives near the end of Hospital Road on the west side of Sydney Harbour, next to land Cape Breton Regional Municipality has designated for the eventual development of a container terminal.

“I think it’s a great thing,” said Wells. “We need industry here. Our fishing is gone; our steel plant is gone; our mines are gone. The only big industry is the school board and the hospital.”

However, he said, it’s going to be years before a terminal gets built.

“I can’t see it in my lifetime,” said the 64-year-old. “I hope I’m wrong, because all our Cape Bretoners are out west working.”

Wells said the greenfield site created by dredged harbour material is in a great location but needs to be shored up with rocks.

The low site is covered with two large pools of water and appears to be reinforced with heavy stone on only one side.

“It’s a shame they didn’t finish up,” said Wells. “The sea is going to take it back.”

The municipality purchased several parcels of land for $6 million in the Point Edward area in 2012, including a new one created along the shore made out of dredged material.

Earlier this month, council approved the purchase of a one-hectare parcel at 231 Hospital Rd., next to Wells’s property, for $40,000. The property is assessed at $32,900 for residential purposes and $1,000 for resources.

Wells said the home on his neighbour’s small parcel has been gutted and did not have any sewer or water service. Wells and his wife have a tidy trailer home on their land, with a good well and a septic tank.

He said if the municipality makes the right offer, he’d consider selling.

“I’m waiting for them to come to me.”

Earlier in the day, John Whalley, the municipality’s economic development manager, said the recently purchased land connects two of the larger parcels that are being assembled for future development.

Whalley said the municipality recently bought the small parcel on Hospital Road as part of its plan to assemble more land in the neighbourhood.

He said there are no immediate plans for the small parcel, but it will eventually be cleared.

None of the area can really be developed, though, until the municipality gains control of the harbour from Transport Canada, said Whalley. That process is moving forward, but it will be measured in months, not weeks.

There was a possibility earlier this year that the province could have acquired the harbour bed for a nominal amount from Transport Canada, Whalley said, but that option was rejected.

“We’re undertaking now direct negotiations with the federal government. The complicating factor is that there has to be an application to Treasury Board to allow conveyance of the harbour bed to the municipal government for a nominal value. There’s going to be a bit of time here because Transport Canada have to prepare an application to go to Treasury Board.

“It’s definitely within this year, but it’s months away.”

The municipality’s intent is to own the land in the area and to lease it to developers. Whalley said there has been some site planning done, but private developers will determine the shape of parcels needed and the kinds of infrastructure required.

Coun. Ray Paruch said the $6 million cost of land will eventually be a good investment, but there is no imminent development on the horizon.

“We don’t have somebody beating the door down that wants to start a container terminal at Point Edward on the greenfield site tomorrow. In the meantime … we’re embarking on a program to acquire properties.”

The municipality has also hired Neil MacNeil’s consulting firm to negotiate control of the harbour with Ottawa, and Jim Gogan of Breton Law Group is working on a new Sydney Ports Corp. governance structure.